Thursday 6 December 2012

Can councils shape communities?


The National Association of Local Councils’ (NALC) Shaping Places conference  last week saw how new exciting opportunities are being presented to very local (parish and town) councils.

The conference showed how local councils can be an even better community leader, encourage communities and members to take advantage of the new planning, housing, community assets protection and development powers that have come their way.

NALC believes that now is a crucial time for localism and local councils have an important role to play in local community action, representation and service delivery.

Eric Pickles MP, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, said: “Local (parish and town) councils are localism’s magic wand and that local services are at their best when they are run by local people.

“Localism requires local accountability and this is where local councils can provide this democratic mandate.”

He then issued a challenge to local councils by saying: “We are giving you the power, now we are looking for you to deliver.”

At the same conference Communities secretary Eric Pickles told parish councils to rethink average 3% hikes to their council tax precept - which he said are outstripping levies raised by the rest of local government.

Mr Pickles urged local councillors to make sure they are not overburdening residents with increased taxes.
"It hasn't escaped my noticed that, at a time when most districts are freezing their council tax, the average parish precept has gone up by 3%. And the trend is seeing parish increases outstripping the rest of local government," said Mr Pickles.
He added the DCLG (department of Communities and Local Government) was prepared to review principles governing council tax referendums, but demanded parish councillors 'square' any rises with their electorate. 'Can you really look your local folk in the eye?' Pickles asked delegates.
Elsewhere in his speech, the communities secretary said parishes should embrace neighbourhood planning to build proper neighbourhoods, asking them 'to choose activism not Nimbyism'.

Mr Pickles full written speech can be viewed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-value-of-parishes and to listen to his speech please visit:  http://audioboo.fm/boos/1093989-eric-pickles-speech-at-nalc-2012

The secretary of state came under fire in the Q and A session over the Government's apparent U-turn over the localisation of council tax support.

Carolyn Downs, chief executive of the Local Government Association, said: ”The Community Rights legislation is not necessary to improve the relationship between different tiers of local government. It is about getting the culture right and this will led to more service devolution and the giving away of power to communities and local councils.” 

John Findlay, chief executive of NALC, responded: “Power still rest with principal authorities (county, district, unitary and borough) as they have the final decision on the devolution of power and services to the communities and local councils. If localism is really to succeed, then power should go to the local community to make the final decision and not be at the discretion of the principal authority.”
           
Cllr Michael Chater, chair of NALC said: “Localism represents exciting opportunities for local councils but there are many challenges that lie ahead because of capacity and resources issues for these community minded bodies.”